About Francesca's Vicinato

Francesca’s Vicinato is the 12th addition to The Francesca's Restaurant Group. Open since July 2003, Francesca's Vicinato brings to Palos Park and the surrounding area a restaurant with a contemporary, casually sophisticated trattoria ambiance, good, simple cooking, friendly service and fair prices. The menu features the zesty earthy cuisine of Rome and the surrounding areas of Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio.

About The Francesca’s Restaurant Group: Founded in 1992 by Restaurateur Scott Harris, Francesca’s Restaurant Group has grown from a small, welcoming Italian restaurant on Chicago’s North Clark Street to a restaurant group of three concepts across 33 locations and four states. Based in Chicago, Francesca’s Restaurant Group currently owns and operates 23 Francesca’s Restaurants, five Davanti Enoteca, and five Glazed and Infused locations.

Took server/bus staff a while to attend to us, had to ask hostess to send someone over - also had to ask 3x for water to be brought to table. Not much ambiance to speak of, and crowded - wait staff probably bumped my chair well over a dozen times with No apology. That being said, they prepared a salmon dish with wilted spinach that wasn't on current menu which was quite good, and my friends rigatoni with sausage was also really good. If the wait staff and logistics of the space could improve, we'd go more frequently, however the Frankfort location is the better option.

I was severely disappointed. I came for Valentine’s Day with a reservation at 7:30. I had to wait 15 minutes to be seated which I was fine with because they were packed and I understand, but after we were seated at 7:45 a waiter didn’t come to our table until 8:30. I think that was rediculous. I had my 80 year old grandmother with me who doesn’t like to eat really late and night which is why my reservation was scheduled at 7:30 and we didn’t get served our main dish until after 9pm....not because the food took long, but because our server came To the table to ask what we wanted to drink at 8:30. On top of that it was an absolute icebox in there...we ate with our winter jackets on and it wasn’t the Valentine’s Day experience we were hoping for. It was extremely loud with people in the dining area getting beligerantly drunk and obnoxious and there was like weird 80s dance music playing. Not what I was expecting since I came last year and had such a nice evening. I don’t know what happened but I made a mistake choosing This restaurant on Valentine’s Day. It wasn’t worth my money

It was a very busy night, but we were promptly seated. The food was remarkable. The tastiest mussels appetizer ever, warm fresh bread with olive oil. The fillet medallions melted in my mouth. My wife's salmon was also outstanding. We will be back.

Food was cold when presented to the table. Ordered twin petite filets. Only took one bite. Informed waiter and when they brought me a new plate of warm food they only gave me half of my order with 1 filet and a very small dollop of potatoes. Asked the waiter where my other “twin petite filet” was and he said he would have the kitchen make one and bring it out. By this time everyone was done eating. Not a good experience! Felt short changed on my meal.

It was our anniversary tonight on New Years Eve. They were packed and running behind. They couldn't find our reservation, until I pointed it out. We waited for about 15 minutes to be seated. Couldn't even get a drink at the bar. Service was slow, food was slow, we were crammed together next to other tables so that you couldn't have a private conversation. They were definitely over booked. We've had lots of great dinners here before. We've also come on our Anniversary before, and it was never this crazy. We would go somewhere else, but it's a sentimental favorite because they catered our wedding on New Year's Eve, so we like to go back on our anniversary.

I have been to this restaurant more than a dozen times but I would never go there again on New Years Eve. They over crowded the restaurant and we were actually sitting at a folding table. The waiter was inattentive and he never even came by to ask if we needed another drink or how we liked our meal. I understand it was a busy night, but that should all be taken into consideration by management when they planned for the evening. Other wait staff , at nearby tables, weren’t having the same problems so it was definitely the waiter. Where the waiter slacked off, the busboy was terrific. When the food arrived some of it was hot and other items cool. I just think the restaurant tried to cram in too many people that night which is unfortunate since they usually do a great job.

Food was a short wait on a busy New Year's Eve and was delivered piping hot. Excellent rigatoni and sausage and rice risotto. The only draw back was the restaurant was filled with an older crowd and the music was geared towards the younger crowd who shopped in a clothing shop. It would of been so nice if they would if had more relaxing dinner music to make this dinner experience better. Most of the servers working there are young and it seems they had the music on for them instead of the paying customers of this cute restaurant.

Tags: Happy Hour, Good for Anniversaries, Casual, Bar Seating, Good for Birthdays

Our Family has been going to Francesca’s Vicinato restaurant in Palos Park for years. This was our family’s “Go To” restaurant for years. We had celebrated many special occasions and our experiences there have always been very good. Went to Francesca’s with the immediate family, 5 individuals, last night (November 26th), to celebrate my wife’s birthday, what a huge disappointment.

The restaurant was about half full, we were lead to a table just outside the ladies room and the kitchen entrance. We asked to be reseated and was lead to the bar sitting area, when there were numerous table available in the main dining area. We ordered two 8oz glasses of house Pinot Noir, when we got the check $18 each for an 8oz glass of Pinot. Really, it’s Francesca’s in Palos Park for Pete’s sake! And not the best tasting Pinot at that. I guess our bad should have asked the price. Our family ordered 5 bowls of pasta with the a Wedge salad. My daughter ordered a bowl of pasta with 4 shrimp for the amazing price of $23. The taste of the food was OK not great. Service was OK also. Not sure what has happen with the establishment we knew?

I do not write many reviews, needless to say negative ones , but our experience was just so very sad and disappointing so I am compelled . Time to look for a new “Go To”, I guess!

Please sign in to record your input. Thanks!

Report this review as inappropriate?

If you believe this review should be removed from OpenTable, please let us know and someone will investigate.

What are premium access reservations?

We teamed up with popular restaurants to save you a spot when the house is filled. Redeem OpenTable Dining Points for in-demand tables, set aside for you.

How can I earn points?

You can earn points when you book and dine using the OpenTable app or OpenTable.com. Standard qualifying reservations are worth 100 points, and specially marked reservations are worth up to 1,000 points–10x the regular amount of points!